RSPB calls for more wind farms in bid to counter global warming

Published Date: 24 March 2009
By Emily Beament

THE RSPB yesterday called for a large increase in the number of onshore wind farms, after a report said far more could be built without damaging wildlife.
The conservation charity said climate change threatened many species with extinction, and there was an urgent need for renewable energy to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.But despite the UK's "abundant" natural wind resources, it is lagging behind other European countries, with wind turbines providing just 2 per cent of the country's energy needs in 2007. The government must step in to provide a clear lead on developing wind farms more quickly without damaging wildlife or alienating communities, the RSPB urged.A report from the Institute for European Environmental Policy said that the UK was far behind countries such as Denmark, where wind meets 29 per cent of demand; Spain, where it accounts for a fifth of power needs; and Germany, where it meets 15 per cent of demand.The report for the RSPB, which compared the UK with those other countries, said an effective planning system could ratchet up the number of wind farms. Ruth Davis, head of climate change policy at the RSPB, said: "This report shows that if we get it right, the UK can produce huge amounts of clean energy without time-consuming conflicts and harm to our wildlife. But get it wrong and people may reject wind power."